Senator Van de Putte to Host Asthma Disparities Summit
(SAN ANTONIO) -- On Tuesday, June 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., State Senator Leticia Van de Putte will join local medical and policy experts to present a summit on Asthma disparities, “Closing the Gap on Health Care Disparities: A State Overview in Texas.” The summit takes place at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA), 1st floor of the Academics & Administrative Building, classrooms 114-118, and is being sponsored by UTHSCSA and AstraZeneca.
San Antonio ranked 39th out of the top 100 "Asthma Capitals" as reported by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. In the past year, 44 percent of Texas residents suffering from asthma were hospitalized or treated in an emergency room and 38 percent have missed school or work due to asthma related symptoms. This summit affords the opportunity for distinguished health care and community leaders to address Asthma disparities in Texas, particularly within the Hispanic Community.
The agenda for the day is as follows:
Welcome & Opening Address – Senator Leticia Van de Putte
Address from Francisco G. Cigarroa, MD, President, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Addressing Lack of Diversity in Clinical Trials for Medicines - René F. Rodríguez, MD, President, Interamerican Collage of Physicians and Surgeons
Keynote Presentation – Fernando A. Guerra, MD, MPH, Director, San Antonio Metropolitan Health District
Panel Discussion By:
- Sharon Petronella, MS, PhD, University of Texas Medical Branch, NIEHS Community Outreach and Education Core, Division II: Asthma & Children's Environmental Health Outreach
- Pamela Wood, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and Medical Director, Asthma Education Programs, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital
- Robert L. Wilkins, PhD, RRT, Professor and Chair, Department of Respiratory Care, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- John Hellerstedt, MD, Medical Director, Texas Medicaid and CHIP Program, Texas Health and Human Services Commission